Justine Fontes was born in New York City and grew up on Long Island. She graduated with a BA in English literature from New York University. While at university, she went into publishing and has worked at various publishing houses before becoming a freelance writer of children's books. She met her husband, Ron Fontes, while working with Little Golden Books, and they frequently write together. Ron Fontes has been an actor, advertising executive, art director, and standup comic. He is now happily an author of children's books and has published more than 500 with his wife, Justine Fontes. Keiko Motoyama is an illustrator of books for young readers. Her works include Hairy Henry; Bears, Bears, Everywhere; and How the Turtle Got Its Shell.